National Charter for Youthworkers

“We love our youthworker!” will be officially launched next spring, but here’s a sneak preview of the aims of the charter and the set of seven sections with the cartoons to accompany them.

This is a campaign to encourage churches to think about the way they employ a full time worker and is based on a set of seven promises that churches commit to follow. We believe that keeping full time workers positive, productive and living balanced lives makes for great youthwork. That’s an important step towards building God’s kingdom among young people. Churches who sign up to the Charter gain a set of benefits and can expect to attract the very best youth workers in the UK. And, of course, it can also help them think about the best way to support volunteer youth workers.

1. We will pray and support

We believe that our youth worker needs spiritual support in their work with young people. We promise to pray for our youth worker and keep their needs a high priority in the church’s prayer life.

2. We will give space for retreat and reflection

We believe that taking time to think and pray is just as essential for our youth workers as organising events and meeting young people. We promise to encourage our youth worker to use part of their schedule to give space for retreat, reflection and personal development.

3. We will provide ongoing training and development

We believe that learning the skills of youthwork is an ongoing process and that it’s important to continually invest in professional development. We promise to set aside time and money to provide this for our youth worker.

4. We will give a full day of rest each week

We believe that taking regular time off helps maintain our youth worker’s passion and energy for their work with young people. We promise to actively encourage our youthworker to take a day away from their role each week to do something different.

5. We will share responsibility

We believe that having a youth worker does not release the rest of the church from our responsibilities towards young people. We promise to encourage everyone to play a part in volunteering, praying for or supporting young people.

6. We will strive to be an excellent employer

We believe that it’s important to have clear structures and procedures for recruiting and employing a youth worker, and to provide supportive management structures. We promise to follow good practice guidelines in the way we employ our youth worker.

7. We will celebrate and appreciate

We believe it’s vital to acknowledge what our youth worker is doing and the commitment they have made to work with young people in our church. We promise to make sure our youth workers know they are appreciated and we will celebrate their achievements.